Should I go Ruger LCR in .38 or .357?

B

baccusboy

New member
So I'm trying to decide between the two of these. I have held the .38 and love it. But I'm trying to decide if I should go with the .357 -- not because I plan to carry .357 in it -- because I figure there will be less recoil with the .38+P in it due to the weight. Also, I just wonder if it would hold up better over time, being a heavier/stronger gun?

Anyone fired both? Is there a noticeable weight difference when carrying?

Thanks.
 
Get the .38. The +P is all you need or want. The extra weight (about 3.5 ozs.) sort of defeats the idea of a light gun. If you need a .357, get a SP-101 or a S&W Model 60.
 
BarryLee said:
Have you compared the actual size increase? Would it be more difficult to carry?
Click to expand...

The size/weight difference is minimal, not enough to affect carry. It's also not enough to help tame the heavy recoil of a .357 out of such a light package. Despite that, I'd still choose the .357 model. I've always liked the idea of the ultra light .357 and Ruger makes one that's actually affordable. If I didn't dislike the trigger on the LCR it would be on my hip as I type this.
 
Thanks for the comments.


As for the LCR trigger, Shadi you are the first person I have read or heard of who didn't like it. I thought the trigger on the .38 I tried was great... nice and smooth. It is one of the reasons I like the gun. Plus I love revolvers.
 
I don't think you can really go wrong with either one. If you want to pocket carry, the lighter weight of the .38 might be a benefit, but you probably won't notice much difference on the hip.
 
I have the 357. I wavered between the 38 and the 357 like you are when I got mine. In the first place, the 357 allows you to shoot both the 38 and the more powerful 357 if you want to. I have shot a few 357s through mine but I am really a 38 spl. person - and that is what I carry in it for CC. I can't speak as to the "recoil" between the 38 model and the 357 - yes, the 357 is a couple of ounces heavier. I really don't think the difference would be that noticeable. Mine shoots well and is accurate at SD range. I CC on the belt and you hardly know it's there. If I had it to do over again, I'd still get the 357 over the 38.
 
I posted and forgot to mention the trigger pull that some folks seem so concerned with. Personally, I hate DA because I've always shot SA. However, the LCR is designed to be a personal defense weapon - not a target pistol. I have no problems with the trigger at all. Yes, it has a little longer pull and may be a little heavier - but it's a SD weapon. At the range, I quickly became familiar with the trigger pull and found it easy to squeeze off aimed shots without the muzzle wandering. The key to any SD weapon is practice, practice, practice.

Most SD situations are going to be very close up. If you have to pull your weapon and fire, you're not going to have any problems with the trigger pull on the LCR. Your adrenaline will be pumping and your concentration is going to be on finding central mass before the BG takes you down or out. Trust me, you aren't going to remember what the trigger pull is whether its 2 pounds or 20 pounds.
 
I have an LCR 22 and an LCR 357 to go with it. Both guns have a great trigger for a J Frame size concealed carry handgun.
What I have found is for pocket carry the LCR 357 is enough heavier that you do notice it.
For belt carry the extra 4 Oz. is a non issue.
I have fired 38 Special 125 grain +P out of a S&W 638 and the LCR 357 side by side. Big difference in felt recoil between the two. I was shooting my 158 grain 4.7 Unique load out of the LCR 357 at the last Defensive Pistol Match in BUG Division. No problem at all shooting even one handed. My guess that load would not be fun out of a J Frame airweight S&W like the 637, 638, or 642.

I think the extra 4 Oz will soak up a little recoil. As for holding up longer, who knows. I would bet on the 357, but no one has complained about the LCR 38 holding up well, as far as I know.

Either should work fine. I would still pick the LCR 357, and I would also still install the XS 24/7 Tritium Front Sight again. I am carrying Speer 135 grain 357 short barrel in mine. I carry in a Lobo Enhanced Pancake, and a JR Roo pocket holster in my jackets and vests.

Bob
 
Most people who buy lightweight .357s do so because they "can" shoot .357s in them.
But most "don't" shoot them, so why bother?
 
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In order to make a good decision, you need to decide how you plan to carry the gun and why you plan to carry it. Is it going to be a primary gun or a backup? Do you plan to pocket carry in a pocket holster or use a belt holster?

The size difference is significant enough to make the .38 a better choice for front pants pocket carry. For a belt gun, you might as well get the .357. In my mind, the main reason for buying these lightweight revolvers is for deep concealment. Thus I want mine to be as small as possible. Unless you have a compelling reason for wanting to shoot .357 in a lightweight gun, you probably should just use .38 +P in the smaller gun.

A compelling reason could be that the gun will be a backup to a full size .357 revolver and you want full interchangeability of ammo. If this is the case, you can get around this by carrying spare ammo in .38+P.
 
LCR .357magnum...

I do not own either but I had a .357magnum DA only SP101 snub in the early 1990s.
It was a bit heavy for deep concealment but if I were to buy a new Ruger LCR, I'd select a .357magnum. It can handle the stout .357magnum rounds(still highly rated for protection) or the +P/+P+ .38spl.
The LCR/.357mag barrel is stainless & the materials seem better than the LCR/.38spl model.
The XS tritium front sight & maybe a CT Lasergrip would be good add-ons.
ClydeFrog
www.crimsontrace.com www.Natchezss.com
 
I'd still get the sp101.
It is controllable with .357 as others have said which is 2nd to none for defense and adequate for bear defense.

Also, I'll never give up single action capability again. I used to have a Smith 640 and it was just no fun not being able to hit anything without that SA.
 
In my eyes the whole reason for an LCR is to have an extremely lightweight carry gun that can handle .38+P. I love mine - it's what I carry the most.

If you're going to carry .38 anyway, then why pay more, and why carry the extra weight of a .357? It's not a as fun at the range as a bigger gun (although it's not terrible). It's nothing more than a great tool for concealed carry.

I've had .357 snubbies in the past, but they're all gone now. If I want to shoot .357 I use my GP100.

By the way the double-action trigger on my LCR is the best I've ever used.
 
Baccusboy,
Most of the time it's in a pocket holster in one of my motorcycle jackets. I carry the LCR mostly when on the motorcycle - which is a lot because I commute that way. Walking around it goes into a belt holster. I also carry a Glock 23 in a lock box in the truck, so when I drive it's usually the Glock that comes along. I got the LCR mostly because heavier guns are not as easy to pocket-carry on the bike.

That said I don't carry 100 percent of the time (and can't while at the university), but almost always have a gun close at hand.
 
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